JPH0517048Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] "Industrial application field" The present invention is a probe for an ultrasonic scanner, especially an ultrasonic scanner that transmits and receives high-frequency ultrasonic waves by mechanically scanning a transducer based on a long-distance method. Regarding improvements to probes for

[Prior Art] An ultrasonic scanner is a device that mechanically scans a transducer to obtain a tomographic image over a wide range within a subject. In addition, ultrasonic scanners using long-distance methods,
This device is often used to obtain the best image quality near the surface of a subject, for example, for diagnosing the eyes, jaws, etc.

In other words, this long-distance method solves the problem of not being able to obtain a high-quality image near the surface of the object due to the effects of multiple reflections when receiving reflected echoes because the ultrasonic transmission and reception distance is short. It is. For this reason, ultrasonic scanners based on this method transmit and receive ultrasonic waves while maintaining an appropriate distance (for example, about 5 cm) between the transducer and the surface of the object. This ensures wave action.

Such an ultrasonic scanner generally uses a probe in which a skirt body filled with a liquid as an intermediate propagation medium of ultrasonic waves is formed between a transducer and the surface of a subject. In ultrasonic scanners that mechanically scan transducers, oil is used as an intermediate propagation medium within the hakama body to prevent rust on the movable parts of the transducers or to ensure electrical insulation. It is being

[Problems to be solved by the invention] Problems of the conventional technology However, the above-mentioned 5 cm of oil inside the hakama body
When ultrasonic waves of 7.5MHz or higher are sent back and forth, the ultrasonic waves
There was a problem that the signal was attenuated to about 20 dB, making it impossible to obtain a sufficient reception condition.

Therefore, it is understood that a substance with low attenuation of ultrasonic waves can be used as an intermediate propagation medium in the hakama body, but since substances with low attenuation of ultrasonic waves are liquids whose main component is water, these materials cannot be used. There were problems with rust on the movable parts of the vibrator and poor electrical insulation.

Purpose of the invention The present invention was devised in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to maintain good electrical insulation of the movable vibrator without rusting, and to attenuate ultrasonic waves by an intermediate propagation medium. An object of the present invention is to provide a probe for an ultrasonic scanner in which this problem does not arise.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a transducer that is removably attached to the probe at the front surface of the transducer on the subject side in the probe, so that the transducer and the subject surface are connected to each other. a hollow cylindrical rigid hakama body that maintains a predetermined distance between the hakama body, an aperture membrane affixed to cover the opening on the subject side of the hakama body, and a membrane so as to cover the transducer within the probe. a partition membrane disposed in the area to isolate the vibrator from the internal space of the hakama body, and a space on the side of the vibrator of the partition membrane contains oil that prevents corrosion of the movable parts of the vibrator and ensures electrical insulation. The space on the subject side of the partition membrane is filled with physiological saline.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the mechanical scanning action of the vibrator can be prevented from corrosion by improving electrical insulation by the oil filled on the vibrator side of the partition membrane. Attenuation of the ultrasonic beam emitted from the probe can be suppressed to a minimum by the physiological saline that occupies most of the space within the probe and the space within the hakama.

Since the skirt body is removable from the probe body, it is possible to easily adjust the vibrator, replace the partition membrane, and perform other procedures without the skirt body getting in the way.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the ultrasonic scanner probe according to the present invention, in which a probe body 1 is shown.
A hakama body 12 is detachably attached to the body 0 by screw connection. An aperture film 14 is provided at the opening of the hakama body 12 on the subject side, and this aperture film 1
4 is made of a material that has little attenuation of ultrasonic waves and can be brought into close contact with the surface of the subject. Further, a vibrator 16 is provided in the probe body 10 so as to be mechanically scannable, and is immersed in the liquid in the hakama body 12.

A characteristic feature of the present invention is that the inside of the hakama body 12 has a double liquid tank structure, and the vibrator 1
An elastic partition membrane 18 is provided in the vicinity of 6 so as to enable mechanical scanning. The elastic partition membrane 18 is made of a material similar to that of the aperture membrane 14, and is formed of a thin film that reduces attenuation of ultrasonic waves. It has an elastic force that allows it to flexibly respond to pressure from outside or when water or the like is injected into the hakama body.

The liquid tank on the transducer side in the partition membrane 18 is filled with oil, while the liquid tank on the subject side is filled with physiological saline in this embodiment.

The liquid to be filled in the liquid tank on the subject side should preferably be mainly water-based so that the medium is the same as that of in-vivo tissues, and physiological saline, which has extremely low attenuation of ultrasound waves compared to oil, etc. etc. is optimal. but,
This physiological saline cannot be used for a long period of time and must be replaced as appropriate. That is, as described above, the hakama body 12 is detachably attached to the probe body 10 by screw connection, and when replacing the physiological saline, first the hakama body 12 is removed and the saline is discarded. Next, after wearing the hakama body 12, physiological saline is injected through a small injection port provided in the hakama body 12, although not shown in the figure.

In this way, the liquid tank on the transducer side can maintain good electrical insulation and the transducer will not rust, and the liquid tank on the subject side can minimize the attenuation of ultrasound. . Then, good transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves to the surface of the object is achieved, and in an ultrasonic scanner using a long-distance method,
It becomes possible to obtain clear images containing a lot of information.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, according to the invention, since the hakama body has a double liquid tank structure, the liquid tank on the vibrator side ensures electrical performance and prevents rust in the movable parts of the vibrator. This makes it possible to minimize the attenuation of ultrasonic waves in the liquid tank on the subject side, and to obtain a good state of ultrasonic wave transmission and reception in an ultrasonic scanner using a long-distance method.

Furthermore, since the hakama body is detachably attached to the probe body, adjustments to the transducer or when the partition membrane is damaged and must be replaced can be easily carried out without the presence of the hakama body getting in the way. Is possible.

In addition, by doing this, for example, the eyes,
It becomes possible to obtain a clear image of the vicinity of the surface of the jaw, etc.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the ultrasonic scanner probe according to the present invention. 10...Probe body, 12...Hakama body, 14...
...Aperture membrane, 16... Vibrator, 18... Partition membrane.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] An ultrasonic scanner probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a subject by mechanically scanning a transducer disposed inside the probe; A hollow cylindrical rigid hakama body that is detachably attached to the probe on the front surface of the specimen side and maintains a predetermined distance between the transducer and the surface of the specimen; an aperture film affixed to the transducer side space of the partition film, and a partition film arranged to cover the transducer in the probe and isolate the transducer from the internal space of the hakama body An ultrasonic scanner probe characterized in that the transducer is filled with oil that prevents corrosion of the movable part of the transducer and ensures electrical insulation, and the space on the subject side of the partition membrane is filled with physiological saline.